The good ol' days

We were such fashionistas!!

Dakota Dreams - lovin' it

New toys

Oh I can't wait to get this. I've done some investigating and this is exactly what I want. Not only is it better than the one I've seen in stores - but it was on sale. So even with shipping I got a deal. I'm just tired of trying to find the correct circular needle size...measuring the length, what size is the needle? Now I can have them all organized in their little labeled pockets!!

I've started the Dakota Dreams sweater - it's coming along nicely. When I get a little further I photograph.

Spent the weekend in Portland - a little mom time for The Nurse. We had a great time visiting with the family and of course shopping...after all it is the big city and there are real stores there, like Nordstroms! Danger! The daffodils were blooming - and it rained and rained - duh - it's Portland.

I'm told the weather is going to get positively spring like by the end of the week. Does that mean I get to work in my yard. I hope so because it looks pretty bad right now. Lots of downed branches, cones and junk. Lots of raking ahead for me.

hope all is well with your world!
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Baby Mitts and the last of the big mitts!

No more Mitts for me - I've made enough pair! Hopefully my order of Palette will come tomorrow and I can start the Dakota Dreams sweater - I can't wait. I'll be doing the hat of the same pattern - someone I know wants one! Once again how did I luck out to find a best friend who loves knitted things. Pinch me!!

Just in case I'm the only one, let me say I am sick of this weather - I know, I love the snow. But I hate the wind when its cold too. Spring - hurry up, I've got a yard to clean up.

Road trip was shortened due to icy highway - but it was a great weekend. Did the above baby mitts for The Nurses suite mates little sis. So I was productive despite distractions.

Big News - The Nurse got her perfect senior practicum - Labor and Delivery at the hospital that does all the high risk deliveries and babies......her last term will be the best!! Her sister (The Nomad) says she will be a perfect L&D Nurse! We're going up to see her next weekend - can't wait!
TTFN

Gathered Pullover

So where is the picture? Sweater is finished - a little roomier than I expected - but it's warm, very soft and comfortable. Details here. Picture is terrible. Color is correct on swatch - but not on sweater picture. When someone comes to visit me I'll have them take a better picture.

Just purchased Fearless Fair Isle Knitting - wonderful book. I'm starting on the Dakota Dreams sweater as soon as I can order the yarn - naturally - since I already have a huge stash of Palette - I have to order more because I don't have any of these colors!

One night road trip heading east this weekend. Just need to escape. Looking forward to not being at home! Have small knitting projects ready.
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Knitting Groups

Central Oregon has many Knitting groups. The Bend Knitup meets Wed. 5:30 pm at Dudleys Bookstore downtown and Fri. 10 am at Barnes & Noble.

The Redmond knitting group meets Mon evenings at 5:30 pm at Green Plow Roasters downtown. They also meet on Saturday's at Ray's market for a lace KAL! Both groups are a great way to meet new people, enhance your knitting skills and have a great time.

Next weekend (Saturday March 26th) is the High Desert Wool Growers Fiber Market Day at the Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville from 9-5. There will be fiber vendors, spinners, dyers, fiber animals and other booths. The Redmond Knitting group even has a booth. I have to be in Portland - the Nurse needs some mom time (and her tires) so will be busy elsewhere.

Mitt Frenzie

The High Desert Wool Growers is having a Market Day the end of March at the Crook County Fair Grounds. My knitting group has a booth and I will be selling these...had to do some major stash busting and clean out - so these were perfect. Hopefully I'll get more done in the next weeks. Maybe I can then buy some new yarn...novel concept!

Spring is coming...lots of birds at my feeders. I'm hoping!
TTFN

Ask and you shall receive!

So The Nurse requested fingerless mitts...done. Then this afternoon she sent me a photo of some Coffee Cozies...done. Now I'm going back to my own projects.

I finally made it to a Knitting Group Night - Oh ladies it was soooo nice to see you all. Next time I'll bring a project I can actually see!

They say we're going to get another snow storm and a deep freeze - as always - bring it!! I'm prepared.

It snowed ALL day

So I had a blazing fire, a hot adult beverage and plenty of yarn. Finished this...
I copied the pattern from Alice Starmore's book Fair Isle Knitting. I love this book. I think I'm finished with hats for a little while - we'll see.

It's still snowing so I'll work on some mitts for The Nurse - she thinks she doesn't get enough knit wear because she's not living at home anymore. Looking back, she actually has the biggest collection...deprived child...

As far as the snow goes - BRING IT!

Be careful of what you wish for...

So this morning I commented "Bring it" on my Facebook page. And I got what I asked for. Much of it melted during the day but as you can see below I've got a broken tree - actually it's not my tree but my neighbors that broke in my yard. Hope they'll clean it up.
I had planned on getting a few chores done yesterday, but decided to knit instead. So today after work I had to slog around getting my hair cut (thanks Kimberly) then go to the store. I wasn't about to be snowed in without coffee - duh. Am home safe, it's snowing hard again and I still say bring it! Just hope I don't lose electricity as many have - the snow is very wet and heavy. Ruby Suby loves it!

Not working tomorrow so I can enjoy the wood stove (yes I brought in lots of wood) and knit away. I got another order of KnitPicks palette today, so will be working on a hat for a friend. More about that later when I actually have something to show. Do not let me purchase any more yarn - I know that KnitPicks is economical but still!
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Hand Heaters

The Geek posted on Facebook....
"Does anyone make a hand heater for a desk or heated keyboard? Typing with cold hands is hard."

How stupid and I'm a genius!

I cast on for my Gathered Pullover sweater on Thursday...knit a bunch on Friday and wasn't to sure about it. My gauge was right on, but I didn't like how the rolled edge was going to work and it seemed really really big. Mind you I'm making the large - but this was..really large. Took it off the needles and counted stitches before I ripped it out. Funny - I'd cast on at least an extra hundred stitches. How did that happen - I used markers every 50 cast on stitches. Stupid. So I cast on again and decided to do a cable rib instead of a rolled edge. I like it much better.

During the Super Bowl I made The Nomad some new mitts. The was accomplished because on Saturday I cleaned out my yarn baskets. Took all the miscellaneous won't use again stuff to the Good Will. (Saved all the sock yarn ends for a blanket someday). In the process of course I found some usable remnants...Mitts seemed the perfect thing. So knitting was my friend again!



Sunday was not a computer day - for some unknown reason my router stopped. Computer would connect to router, but wireless wouldn't connect to internet. I could connect via cable to router and to modem, but not wirelessly. So today I spent an hour on the phone with a very nice girl who didn't speak English and knew less than I did. Eventually I updated the driver for my wireless adapter, reset the router, reinstalled it and what do you know - it assigned us the network name of BigMoose (very appropriate in my house) and now it works just fine!! Whew! I love computers.

He Likes It!!

That's what I hear anyway! The Geek's hat spells part of his name in Binary numbers! Fun!

Have started the Gathered Pullover, but am not sure of the yarn choice. Plymouth Alpaca...looked on Ravelry and couldn't find many sweaters made from this. But it was in my stash from another sweater that didn't work out. So we'll see!

Will spend this weekend packing and organizing The Nomad - next weekend she'll be moving. Sad but good! I also plan on reorganizing my stash better. It's just all thrown into various baskets and draws. That will be fun to see what I really have.

I ordered a little more Palette for some more hats - they are quick and fun.

Hope all is well.

Help

I am doing a simple hat - only a small border at the bottom. Decided to do the body with a S1 K1 stitch to make a thicker fabric.

Now I'm getting ready to do the decreases for the crown....but since my stitch pattern is two stitches I will have to decrease twice in a row in order for the pattern to continue correctly. I have 165 stitches - Can I do a K2tog and a SSK right next to each other?

Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I'll post the hat when I'm finished!!

Edited: I figured it out - I did double decreases - S1 K2tog PSSO....worked perfect

Done - Finished!!

I can't believe I finally finished and love wearing the sweater. Isn't the button great!
The hat's for me - I get cold in my old age.
I've started another small project - but as its a gift you'll have to wait.
I want to make this sweater - but want to modify it. What I actually want to make is a raglan sleeve crew neck with that design in the middle....the patterns says it pulls in about 5 inches ...what does that mean? I'll have to figure this out!

Back at it!

Back at it on two fronts. Back to the blocking board. Took me hours to do the seams - I was careful about each stitch - had to be perfect. Got it all finished and guess what - it didn't fit!! Whenever I make a size XL it's too big - so I did a large and the arm holes are tight and the front is snug (since I am missing essential parts that's amazing). So back to the blocking board. Hopefully this will solve my problem.

Yes my needles were empty for a few hours - but just a few. I know - how boring - another hat. But they are fun!

Spent a lot of time organizing The Nomad this weekend. She is moving into her own place!!! Empty Nest for me! Emptied boxes, cleaned storage room out, went to the dump, reorganized boxes, etc. Satisfying to say the least. My quest for more room will soon be realized. But it will be quiet around here - I won't know what to do with myself...oh I'll think of something!!

Quick Update

I'm almost ready to have nothing - see that "NOTHING" on my needles. I've had a challenging time putting together the Girl Friday. Picked up stitches for the wide button band and the collar - never seemed to get the correct numbers each side. Finally decided I was close enough. Did the bands, button hole, collar etc. Looked totally wrong. Band didn't hang correctly, bunched up. Took it out and finally realized that the front pieces where different lengths - although I had ended on the same row in the pattern - turns out I did an extra pattern repeat. Why didn't this show up when I blocked it! Stupid.

Took out the shoulder seam, and ripped back to where it belonged. Redid the shoulder seam. Picked up stitches at a different rate than suggested in pattern - they had 2 to 3 and I went with 3 to 4.....all is now well. I'm actually on the home stretch and it looks so much better!
I vow to finish this before I start something else - which will be a hat for me!!! I haven't had empty needles for years. Before I started blogging I always finished a project before I started the next one and I never had a yarn stash. My how things have changed!!

I'm into Hats!!

I'm liking knitting hats!!

Primarily because I'm stuck on other projects. I finished blocking my Girl Friday - picked up stitches for the collar and wide front band as instructed - 2 for every 3 - but it just didn't work out - wished I'd taken a picture before I ripped it out. The first and last stitch at the bottom of the front bands were picked up at the last possible stitch - yet the bands are shorter than the front pieces....so I'll try again. I must finish this as I found the best button ever! Pictures I promise.

Wednesday is book club and I'm making split pea soup with a honey ham bone - yum! Perfect for the wet and windy weather we're having. I get to pick the book for next time and I can't decide. I had planned to suggest "River House" - local author, local story, but I started it early and just finished it. Now I've have started "Loving Frank" - about Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair with a married woman. Fascinating story...kinda sad. We'll have to vote. Both are good and interesting.

Speaking of weather - I heard on the news tonight that the Sandy River has changed it's course near where I vacationed in November....it washed out a major road (which we drove on) and about 50 homes are stranded! Not exactly where I was - but pretty close. That would be scary to say the least!

Hope everyone is safe, warm and dry....

Blocking!!

Oh my gosh - I just might finish this!!!

But then while it was drying I started this - The Nomad picked her colors - does this mean she's going to Sweden next?

Resolutions?

These (and a bunch more) were a Christmas gift from my kids - aren't they great. We had a lot of fun doing them on a cold Sunday morning!

Since it is the season for resolutions - I've got a few...
1) Lose weight - doing Weight Watchers at home with the Nomad
2) Read more - since I'm not working I've got tons of time
3) Declutter and empty closets....what do I get rid of?
4) Knit, Knit and Knit some more. I've got so many projects in mind I hardly know where to start!!
5) Sort through the huge boxes of family photos from my parents house. Once they are sorted what do I do with them? Same goes for boxes of documents etc...What is important to keep?

I've got plenty to do that's for sure.

Sister is coming to visit for the weekend - so will be doing some kind of activity - plus eating too much I'm sure!!

Oh look who came to visit....

Last of the Season Mitts

These are another "waiting in the Doctors Office" mitts. They are for me - finally it's my turn!!

Happy Happy New Year to all!!!